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Please help me identify and kill this plant

This is some kind of bushy plant that seems pretty common around here. The grow fast--this one is maybe a year old and is about 3-4' high. Left alone they'll grow 10'+ high in a few years. First, I'd like to identify what they are. Second, I want to try to find a way to control them.

Brush hogging them doesn't seem to kill them--maybe even makes the spread. Plus brush hogging knocks down the grasses and and trees I want to encourage. So I'd like to find something I can spot spray to try to kill them (knowing that the overspray is going to do some damage, but I can live with that.) Preferably something that's not too expensive since I have about 7 acres to spot spray.

In order to do battle with anything you are far better off to know your adversary and then take counter-measures. In this case, I would find out what the plant is, and then find out what it thrives in. Weeds are natures way of letting you know a nutrient imbalance is taking place. Once you know what your soil is lacking, or what you have an abundance of, you can figure out a way to change it.

For instance here we have lots of problems with golden rod taking over pastures or hay fields.The best way to deal with it is to actually spread urea on the pasture. This ups the nitrogen and makes the grass compete with the golden rod...so much that in a years time the golden rod is on the retreat. In the meantime we get better grass that keeps the milk production up.

Lime also may help depending on the weed in question is nitrogen loving or alkali loving. Lime and Urea are both easy broadcast spread over a pasture so its a no invasive way of dealing with the problem (no tilling or spraying herbicide).

I have no intention of traveling from birth to the grave in a manicured and well preserved body; but rather I will skid in sideways, totally beat up, completely worn out, utterly exhausted and jump off my tractor and loudly yell, "Wow, this is what it took to feed a nation!"

This is some kind of bushy plant that seems pretty common around here. The grow fast--this one is maybe a year old and is about 3-4' high. Left alone they'll grow 10'+ high in a few years. First, I'd like to identify what they are. Second, I want to try to find a way to control them.

Brush hogging them doesn't seem to kill them--maybe even makes the spread. Plus brush hogging knocks down the grasses and and trees I want to encourage. So I'd like to find something I can spot spray to try to kill them (knowing that the overspray is going to do some damage, but I can live with that.) Preferably something that's not too expensive since I have about 7 acres to spot spray.

I'd agree with Travis on knowing what your dealing with and also call the county extension to see what their advice is. If you can control the current year's plants from going to seed then you can eliminate it by keeping it from procreating anymore. Much like my wife did to me.

Darren

To a small child, the perfect granddad is unafraid of big dogs and fierce storms but absolutely terrified of the word “boo.” – Robert Brault

It will probably be a constant battle as this is prolific around the area. We have an easement at the back of our property for some power lines (almost 1/4 mile from the house) and the company that owns them is coming through this year to clear under them. The neighbors on either side of me have ones large enough that they are coming in with chainsaws, then some machine that will grind up all the smaller stuff, and finally they are going to spot spray. So that might help, but there will still be plenty on other parts of both neighbors' properties.